Thai protesters storm Asian summit

April 11, 2009 12:00 am

Red-shirted demonstrators loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra breached police lines, broke through glass doors and streamed into the media centre of the venue in the beach resort of Pattaya.

They hooted horns and chanted slogans against the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, without any apparent attempt by security forces to remove them.

Reporters from global media watched as hordes of cheering protesters filed down escalators in the plush Royal Cliff Beach Resort hotel and then headed to the area where delegates are due to meet later.

The protesters had earlier caused the postponement of several key meetings at the summit of the Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.